The House Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat slammed the GOP for its uproar about reports that the Biden administration may consider admitting Gazan refugees to the US.

Rep. Jim Himes, (D-Conn.), criticized Republicans for making a big deal about this possibility and emphasized the strict vetting process in place for refugee applicants.

Himes replied, “This is not something,” when asked whether he felt confident that the people who come from Gaza would be properly vetted. The rep stated that the only way people can obtain refugee status would be to begin a lengthy process of vetting.

“A number Republican senators, and over-caffeinated Florida Senators, may want to sell an awful lot fear right now. I would challenge you come up with examples of refugees who have been vetted and come to this country committed acts of terror.”

Himes’ “over-caffeinated Florida Senators” jab is likely directed towards Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who appeared on Fox News Sunday before Himes.

CBS News reported last week that the top officials of the administration are looking at different ways to accept a few Gazans who have family members in the US, including those who fled into Egypt from the Palestinian enclave to escape fighting.

When asked about the report during a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre replied, “We don’t really have anything to say at this point.”

The Post asked another spokesperson from the White House who declined to confirm the report.

According to data as at March 31, the State Department’s Refugee Admissions Program accepted only 16 Palestinians in the US since October 1, 2023.

Himes emphasized that “while we will continue to accept refugees from all over the world as our international legal duty, this is a very strict vetting procedure.”

Typical screening includes factors like security red flags and medial histories, as well as eligibility.

The aspirant refugee would have to prove that they are fleeing political persecution or some other form of persecution.

Gazans may find it difficult to claim that they are trying escape Israel’s persecution, as the Jewish state is an important US ally in this region.

Rubio, along with over 30 other Republican Senators, wrote a letter last week to President Biden asking for answers regarding possible plans to accept Palestinian refugees.

They wrote: “Unfortunately the risk of terrorists infiltrating our homeland is not a hypothetical issue.” We are also worried that any U.S. plan for refugees may worsen the tensions at the Gaza-Egypt Border.

Both Himes, the ranking member of Senate Intelligence Committee and Rubio are members of “Gang of Eight”, a group of eight Congressmen who receive classified high-level briefings.

Himes criticised Rubio’s portrayal of leading Democrats as “radical extremeists” for their lack of clarity about where they would draw the lines on abortion, particularly during the late stages of pregnancy.

“I don’t know if Marco had just too much coffee in the morning. Himes replied, “But, you know, to say that we are extremists in this matter is madness.”

“Democrats tend to represent the American public, and that’s where the world was prior to the Dobbs ruling, where it stated that, until viability is reached, the decision is between the woman and her physician.”

Around 24 weeks gestation, a fetus’s medical viability is usually determined.